“Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Galatians 5:26 KJV
“for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”
John 12:43 ESV
As one approved of God, your first audience is God and your priority of glorification is Him. The reason many are not able to execute the task committed into their hands is a wrong perspective of their loyalty and obedience. God rewards, but what he rewards is our diligence and the posture of our hearts. Today let’s dive into the phenomenon of vain glory and how it affects our efficacy in the kingdom. Let’s dive into the Word…
When there is a kingdom agenda, the purpose is not solely for an individual. Salvation as an example was to the end that all men will come to knowledge of God, that none should perish. The kingdom mindset is hence a generational goal and bears a wide scope for advancement. So is every task committed into our hands. Everything that withstands the kingdom agenda be it an individual or character is condemned by Paul in our scripture of study.
The key word he mentions, “desirous”, confirms how the posture of the heart is detrimental to the fulfillment of every divine instruction. Let us not be desirous of vainglory he says , showing us how this venomous carnal character is depleting to the body. You see beloved vain glory is one thing we must do away with if truly we desire to lift the name of Jesus in this time and age. If God wants you to build something, it is not for you to take the glory upon yourself neither should your pry yourself. Kingdom agenda is not self seeking but for the glory of God.
Hence, the posture of the heart is the first standing point to deal with. The intent of our hearts vetoes every physical activity no matter how vigorously and excitingly we invest in. If it is to end for the praise of man, we have already failed. The words of Jesus we all desire to hear, “well done my good and faithful servant”(Mathew 25:21), is as a result of man’s loyalty first to God, and second his obedience to circumspectly execute what the Lord committed into his hands.
Succeeding in kingdom agenda means we bare results but the greatest result of all is when God is pleased with us. It is the glory of God that counts, when He is lifted up , He will draw all men. May your heart be set on lifting Jesus to the nations, may you have a heart pure in its intentions pleasing to God to say, “I have found David a man after my heart who will do all my will”( Acts 13:22).